Josh Jung

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Jung attended Douglas MacArthur High School, where he played baseball{{cite web|url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/colleges/article/MacArthur-grad-Jung-making-most-of-opportunity-at-12886110.php|title=MacArthur grad Jung making most of opportunity at Texas Tech|author=Nick Moyle|website=San Antonio Express-News|date=May 3, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2019}} and football.{{cite web|url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high_school/high_school_football/article/Getting-Brahmas-over-the-hump-5710889.php|title=Getting Brahmas over the hump|author=Raul Dominguez Jr.|website=San Antonio Express-News|date=August 31, 2014|access-date=April 5, 2019}} Undrafted out of high school in the 2016 MLB draft, he enrolled at Texas Tech University to play college baseball for the Red Raiders.

In 2017, as a freshman at Texas Tech, Jung started all 62 games at third base, batting .306 with six home runs and 43 RBIs.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytoreador.com/sports/josh-jung-named-freshman-all-american/article_0af6a018-4bcb-11e7-a91d-ef59a237987a.html|website=The Daily Toreador|title=Josh Jung named Freshman All-American|author=Jack Densmore|date=June 7, 2017|access-date=April 5, 2019}} He was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year{{cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=211604405|title=2017 All-Big 12 Baseball Teams and Awards Announced|website=Big 12 Conference|date=May 23, 2017|access-date=April 5, 2019}} and was named a Freshman All-American by multiple outlets including Collegiate Baseball{{cite web|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/sports-red-raiders-baseball/sports-red-raiders/news/2017-06-07/jung-garners-freshman-all-american|website=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|title=Jung garners freshman all-American honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper|author=Carlos Silva Jr.|date=June 7, 2017|access-date=April 5, 2019}} and Perfect Game/Rawlings.{{cite web|url=https://www.everythinglubbock.com/sports/red-raider-nation/josh-jung-adds-another-all-america-honor/742766677|website=KLBK-TV|title=Josh Jung Adds Another All-America Honor|author=David Collier|date=June 15, 2017|access-date=April 5, 2019}} He was also named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team and the All-Big 12 Second Team.{{cite web|url=https://www.vivathematadors.com/2018/2/16/17005486/texas-tech-baseballs-top-10-players-no-2-josh-jung|title=Texas Tech baseball's Top 10 players: No. 2 Josh Jung|publisher=SB Nation|website=Viva The Matadors|date=February 16, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2019}} That summer, he played in the California Collegiate League{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2017-california-collegiate-league-top-prospects/|website=Baseball America|title=2017 California Collegiate League Top Prospects|date=August 21, 2017 |access-date=April 5, 2019}} where he hit .368 with two home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .454 on-base percentage over 117 at-bats.{{cite web|url=http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2019/02/08/2019-cbd-top-100-countdown-3-josh-jung-texas-tech/|website=College Baseball Daily|title=2019 CBD Top 100 Countdown: 3. Josh Jung (Texas Tech)|author=Jake Mastroianni|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2019}} As a sophomore in 2018, Jung once again started all 65 of Texas Tech's games at third base, hitting .392/.491/.639 with 12 home runs and 80 RBIs.{{cite web|url=https://fullpresscoverage.com/2019/02/02/prospect-profile-josh-jung/|title=Prospect Profile: Josh Jung|website=Full Press Coverage|author=Chris Bugajsky|date=February 2, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2019}} He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team,{{cite web|url=https://texastech.com/news/2018/5/22/baseball-holt-wins-freshman-tech-gets-five-on-big-12-first-team.aspx|title=Holt Wins Freshman, Tech Gets Five On Big 12 First Team|website=Texas Tech Red Raiders|date=May 22, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2019}} and was once again named an All-American by outlets such as Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball.{{cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=211717457|title=Eight Earn All-America Accolades|website=Big 12 Conference|date=May 31, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytoreador.com/sports/jung-named-pg-rawlings-preseason-all-american/article_4e6b7dc6-1381-11e9-bfc5-034541cc9aed.html|website=The Daily Toreador|title=Jung named PG/Rawlings Preseason All-American|author=Eleanor Guinan|date=January 8, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytoreador.com/sports/ncbwa-names-jung-unanimous-preseason-first-team-all-american/article_5455be6a-29c3-11e9-9e4f-c7d0a3fb881e.html|website=The Daily Toreador|title=NCBWA names Jung unanimous preseason First Team All-American|author=Max Hengst|date=February 5, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2019}} He played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team that summer.{{cite web|url=https://www.usabaseball.com/news/jung-lifts-team-usa-to-1-0-win-over-japan-on-fourth-of-july/c-284324436?tid=216631700|title=Jung Lifts Team USA to 1-0 Win Over Japan on Fourth of July|website=USA Baseball|date=July 5, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2019}}

Jung was named a preseason All-American by Perfect Game, Baseball America, D1Baseball.com, and Collegiate Baseball prior to his junior year.{{cite web|url=https://texastech.com/news/2019/1/27/baseball-jung-awarded-fourth-preseason-all-america-honor.aspx|title=Jung Awarded Fourth Preseason All-America Honor|website=Texas Tech Red Raiders|date=January 28, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2019}} During the season, he missed two games due to a quadricep strain, ending his streak of 139 consecutive starts.{{cite web|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20190314/tech-starters-seeing-mixed-results-so-far|title=Tech starters seeing mixed results so far|website=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|author=Don Williams|date=March 14, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}} After returning, he moved to shortstop.{{cite web|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20190418/tech-looks-for-higher-gear-as-baylor-comes-to-town|title=Tech looks for higher gear as Baylor comes to town|website=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|author=Don Williams|date=April 18, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}} He was named the 2019 Big 12 Co-Player of the Year (along with Baylor's Davis Wendzel) after batting .333 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs through 49 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20190521/big-12-coaches-honor-jung-as-co-player-of-year|title=Big 12 coaches honor Jung as co-player of the year|website=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|author=Don Williams|date=May 21, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}} He was named an All-American by Baseball America, D1Baseball.com, Perfect Game, ABCA, and NCBWA.{{cite web|url=https://texastech.com/news/2019/6/10/jung-warren-collect-all-america-honors-by-baseball-america.aspx|title=Jung, Warren Collect All-America Honors by Baseball America|website=Texas Tech Red Raiders|date=June 10, 2019|access-date=June 10, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://texastech.com/news/2019/6/13/jung-warren-named-d1baseball-all-americans.aspx|title=Jung, Warren Named D1Baseball All-Americans|website=Texas Tech Red Raiders|date=June 13, 2019|access-date=June 19, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://texastech.com/news/2019/6/16/baseball-jung-collects-sixth-all-america-honor-from-abca.aspx|title=Jung Collects Sixth All-America Honor from ABCA|website=Texas Tech Red Raiders|date=June 16, 2019|access-date=June 19, 2019}} Jung was the recipient of the 2019 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award, which honors the top Division I baseball player within Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma each season.{{cite news|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/article231474133.html|title=Texas Tech's Josh Jung wins Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|author=Drew Davison|date=June 12, 2019|access-date=June 12, 2019}} Jung finished his junior year hitting .343/.474/.636 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 64 games.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytoreador.com/sports/awards-and-achievements-piled-up-after-tech-s-historic-season/article_81384cf6-9b95-11e9-b304-d74c923bde7a.html|website=The Daily Toreador|title=Awards and achievements piled up after Tech's historic season|author=Max Hengst|date=June 30, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2019}}

Considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 MLB draft,{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/2019|title=MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch|website=MLB.com|access-date=April 5, 2019|archive-date=June 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615113942/http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2019?list=draft|url-status=live}} he was selected by the Texas Rangers in the first round, with the eighth overall pick.{{cite news|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article231129843.html|title=Rangers fill need with 8th overall pick. But that's not why they took Texas Tech star|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|author=Jeff Wilson|date=June 3, 2019|access-date=June 3, 2019}}

On July 3, 2019, Jung signed with the Rangers for a $4.4 million signing bonus.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/josh-jung-davis-wendzel-reach-agreements|title=Jung, Wendzel reach agreements|website=MLB.com|author=T.R. Sullivan|date=July 2, 2019|access-date=July 3, 2019}} On July 10, 2019, Jung made his professional debut with the Arizona League Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League, hitting a home run in his first professional at-bat.{{cite news|url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangers/2019/07/10/watch-rangers-2019-first-round-pick-josh-jung-hits-home-run-first-professional-bat|title=Watch: Rangers 2019 first-round pick Josh Jung hits a home run in first professional at bat|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=July 10, 2019|access-date=July 12, 2019}} On July 15, Jung was promoted to the Hickory Crawdads of the Class A South Atlantic League and hit .287/.363/.389/.752 with one home run and 23 RBIs over forty games for them.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/hunter-pence-nears-return-from-il|title=Pence may return by Tuesday for Rangers|website=MLB.com|author=T.R. Sullivan|date=July 15, 2018|access-date=July 15, 2019}} Jung did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 20, 2021, it was announced that Jung would undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot and miss six to eight weeks.{{Cite web|title=Rangers' Prospect Josh Jung Out 6-8 Weeks With Stress Fracture|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/03/rangers-prospect-josh-jung-out-6-8-weeks-with-stress-fracture.html|access-date=September 17, 2021|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=March 20, 2021 }} He was activated on June 15 and assigned to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Central.{{Cite web|date=June 18, 2021|title=Top Rangers prospect Josh Jung off to fast start in Frisco after missing time with foot injury|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2021/06/18/top-rangers-prospect-josh-jung-off-to-fast-start-in-frisco-after-missing-time-with-foot-injury/|access-date=September 17, 2021|website=Dallas News}} After hitting .308/.366/.544 with ten home runs and forty RBIs over 43 games, he was promoted to the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A West in mid-August.{{Cite web|author=Staff Reports|title=Texas Tech Roundup: Former Red Raider athletes Jung, Beeter promoted in MILB|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/college/red-raiders/2021/08/20/texas-tech-roundup-former-red-raider-athletes-jung-beeter-promoted-milb/8218930002/|access-date=September 17, 2021|website=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal}} Over 35 games with Round Rock, Jung hit .348/.436/.652 with nine home runs, 21 RBIs, and 14 doubles.{{Cite web|last=Glaser|first=Kyle|date=October 5, 2021|title=2021 Triple-A West Top 10 Prospects|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-triple-a-west-top-10-prospects/|access-date=October 6, 2021|website=Baseball America}}

Jung entered the 2022 season as the ninth ranked overall prospect in baseball by FanGraphs,{{Cite web|date=February 23, 2022|title=2022 Top 100 Prospects|url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2022-top-100-prospects/|access-date=February 23, 2022|website=FanGraphs|author=Eric Longenhagen, Kevin Goldstein and Tess Taruskin}} and the 26th overall prospect by Baseball America.{{Cite web|last=BA|first=Staff|title=2022 Top 100 Prospects|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2022-top-100-prospects/|access-date=February 23, 2022|website=Baseball America}} On February 23, 2022, Jung underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.{{Cite web|last=Grant|first=Evan|date=February 23, 2022|title=Rangers prospect Josh Jung has shoulder surgery on torn labrum, could miss six months|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2022/02/23/rangers-josh-jung-has-shoulder-surgery-on-torn-labrum-could-be-out-six-months/|access-date=February 23, 2022|website=The Dallas Morning News}} Jung returned to game action at the end of July, first appearing in eight rehab games for the Arizona Complex League Rangers, before returning to Round Rock in August.{{Cite web |last=Terranova |first=Rob |date=August 17, 2022 |title=Healthy Jung blasts off for two jacks at Triple-A |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/josh-jung-clubs-two-homers-for-triple-a-round-rock |access-date=August 17, 2022 |website=MLB.com}} Over 23 games with Round Rock, he hit .273 with six home runs and 24 RBIs.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/rangers-prospect-josh-jung-eyeing-debut-vs-blue-jays/ | title=Rangers prospect Josh Jung eyeing debut vs. Blue Jays | date=September 8, 2022 }}

On September 9, 2022, the Rangers selected Jung's contract from Triple-A and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that night and in his very first at-bat, he hit a home run off of Ross Stripling of the Toronto Blue Jays. The feat made him only the second Rangers player to do so alongside Jurickson Profar.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/josh-jung-homers-in-first-major-league-at-bat | title=A dream come true: Jung homers in first MLB AB | website=MLB.com }} Jung appeared in 26 games for Texas in 2022, hitting .204/.235/.418/.654 with five home runs and 14 RBI over 102 plate appearances.{{Cite magazine |last=Postins |first=Matthew |date=October 19, 2022 |title=Rangers 40-Man Roster Wraps: Josh Jung |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/texas-rangers-40-man-roster-josh-jung-profile-review-offseason |access-date=January 8, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}

Jung was named the AL Rookie of the Month in April 2023 after leading AL rookies in hits (27), home runs (6), and total bases (44). His 21 runs batted in (RBI) were the most among all rookies.{{Cite web|title=Monthly award winners for April announced|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2023-mlb-monthly-award-winners|access-date=May 17, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} He followed that up by winning AL Rookie of the Month for May 2023.{{Cite web |last=Landry |first=Kennedi |date=June 4, 2023 |title=Back-to-back monthly honors underscore Jung's value |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/josh-jung-stays-hot-earns-second-rookie-of-the-month-award |access-date=June 13, 2023 |website=MLB.com}} Jung was voted in as the American League starting third baseman for the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.{{Cite web |last=Giese |first=Nathan |date=June 29, 2023 |title=Texas Rangers rookie Josh Jung named starter for 2023 MLB All-Star Game |url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/college/red-raiders/2023/06/29/texas-rangers-rookie-josh-jung-named-starter-for-2023-mlb-all-star-game/70371480007/ |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal}} Jung became the first rookie to start in an All-Star game as a Texas Ranger.{{Cite web |last=Landry |first=Kennedi |date=June 29, 2023 |title=Semien, Seager, Jung, Heim named to 2023 All-Star Game as starters |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/four-rangers-will-start-at-the-2023-mlb-all-star-game |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=MLB.com}} He won the World Series with the Rangers in 2023.

After playing in just four games, Jung suffered a fractured wrist following a hit by pitch, and was ruled out for 8–10 weeks after undergoing surgery.{{Cite web|title=Rangers Third Baseman Josh Jung To Miss Eight To 10 Weeks After Wrist Surgery|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/rangers-third-baseman-josh-jung-to-miss-eight-to-10-weeks-after-wrist-surgery|access-date=April 3, 2024|website=amp.foxsports.com|language=en}} He was activated from the injured list on July 29, 2024.{{Cite web |last1=Polishuk |first1=Mark |last2=McDonald |first2=Darragh |date=July 29, 2024 |title=Rangers Make 11 Roster Moves |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/rangers-make-11-roster-moves.html |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en}} Jung finished the season with 46 games played, hitting .264/.298/.421/.719, tallying 7 home runs and 16 RBIs.{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jungjo01.shtml | title=Josh Jung Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More }}

Jung,{{Cite web |last=Mercer |first=Kevin |date=May 5, 2023 |title=Texas Rangers' Josh Jung wins AL Rookie of the Month while being "competitor for Christ" |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/baseball/2023/05/05/rangers-josh-jung-rookie-competitor-christ/ |access-date=May 7, 2023 |website=Sports Spectrum}} is the son of Jeff and Mary Jung of San Antonio. Both parents are physical education teachers in the North East Independent School District.NEISD Alumni Spotlight: "Way to go, Champ!", Discover (North East Independent School District magazine), Winter 2023, p. 11. Jung's younger brother, Jace Jung, played college baseball at Texas Tech and was a first-round draft pick in 2022.{{Cite web|title=Jace Jung - Baseball|url=https://texastech.com/sports/baseball/roster/jace-jung/11666|access-date=September 17, 2021|website=Texas Tech Red Raiders}}

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• [https://texastech.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=9135 Texas Tech Red Raiders bio]
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Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:American League All-Stars

Category:Arizona Complex League Rangers players

Category:Arizona League Rangers players

Category:Baseball players from San Antonio

Category:Douglas MacArthur High School (San Antonio) alumni

Category:Frisco RoughRiders players

Category:Hickory Crawdads players

Category:Major League Baseball third basemen

Category:Round Rock Express players

Category:Texas Rangers players

Category:Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball players

Category:United States national baseball team players